LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, through its Sports Development Office, said they are more than 100 percent ready to host the Region 1 Athletic Association Meet (R1AA) on April 21-27.

Helen Domingo, sports development officer, assured they are prepared to accommodate the 14 participating schools division across the region.

She stated the province’s sports facilities and playing fields have met the qualifications set by technical officials from the Department of Education (DepEd).

Further, the sports head emphasized that these facilities do not only surpass national standards but are also at par with international quality.

“For some of the sports, DepEd follows the international rules, and our Ferdinand E. Marcos (FEM) Memorial Stadium track oval and other venues for batted games also meet the standard for elite playing fields,” said Domingo.

The province is expecting 14,000 participants, coaches, and officials who will be attending the weeklong event.

The Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and other volunteers are tapped to provide 24/7 security service to the participants during their stay in the province.

During the preparation of their hosting, Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc took a hands-on approach and closely supervised the provincial government’s effort to ensure that all necessary tasks were completed ahead of time.

“Gov is hands-on with the preparation and frequently asks about our timeline. He oversees every step of the process and makes suggestions on solutions that we need to execute whenever a problem arises. That is why we were two weeks earlier before the given deadline,” said Domingo.

Ilocos Norte hosted the regional sports competition in 2019 and will again accommodate the 14 competing divisions in 2029.

The province is also expecting to host Palarong Pambansa, the biggest sporting event in the country in 2025. (JCR/MJTAB PIA Ilocos Norte)